The final reports of the investigations on four accidents that occurred within the Nigerian airspace were yesterday released by the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB).
The final reports include that of Beechcraft 1900D with registration 5N-JAH belonging to Wings Aviation Services, Cessna Citation 560XLS with registration 5N-BMM belonging to Bristow Helicopters, Boeing 737-500 with registration 5N-BLE belonging to Aero Contractors and AS 350 B2 with registration 5N-BHU belonging to OAS Limited.
Felix Abali, commissioner, AIB, said, “At the Accident Investigation Bureau we are committed to enhancing aviation safety by conducting thorough and unbiased investigations into aircraft accidents and serious incidents. We are currently working hard to release more accident reports in the shortest possible time.”
Analysing the report, the Beechcraft 1900D registered as 5N-JAH and operated by Wings Aviation Limited as flight TWD 8300, which was on a revenue positioning flight on March 15, 2008 crashed at about 0920 hours in mountainous terrain at Bushi village, Obalinku Local Government Area of Cross River State.
The aircraft was on an instrument flight plan. It originated at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos and destination was Bebi Airstrip, Obudu, Cross River State.
The investigation identified two causal and three contributory factors and made five safety recommendations.
The Bristow Helicopters’ Cessna Citation 560XLS, registered 5N-BMM departed Lagos at 1856 hours for Port Harcourt on an Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) and estimated Port Harcourt at 1940 hours. On final approach the crew had visual challenge but continued the approach, crash landed and exited the runway.
The contributory factor of the accident was adduced to the pilot’s descent from 500 feet without clear visual reference, coupled with the fact that the pilot was not instrument rated.
Aero Contractors Flight 210, a Boeing 737-500, registered 5N-BLE, which departed Lagos on August 21, 2010, skidded off the threshold of Runway 28 while landing on approach into Yakubu Gowon Airport, Jos, Plateau State. The investigation identified one causal and three contributory factors. Two safety recommendations were made.
The OAS Limited aircraft 5N-BHU (helicopter) departed Lagos at 0713 hours November 10, 2010 under Special Visual Flight Rules (Special VFR). The helicopter could not continue the flight to Port Harcourt due to bad weather and was returning to Osubi airstrip when it collided with high tension cables belonging to Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) located along the road to Delta Steel Company, Ovwian, Aladja, Delta State.
